The first two strands have gone live and are massively oversubscribed, so I am mainly interested in getting researchers, campaigners and others to look at the Fellowships Programme, not least because the deadline for applications is 8th March. Here’s the blurb from the leaflet:

‘Teams of three or four researchers can apply to become Visiting Atlantic Fellows, based at the LSE International Inequalities Institute. The Fellows’ teams will conduct intensive research, for periods of between three and nine months, to find potential solutions to the greater challenges posed by inequity.

We are looking for teams that include members from different geographical regions and/or different academic disciplines. We are especially keen to support teams that include members from outside of academia; including figures from civil society organisations, campaign groups, media bodies, and think tanks that focus on inequalities.

Small group session with a lecturer during the University of London International Programmes Study Weekend at the LSE in February 2012

Funding is available to cover most research expenses, including travel, accommodation, research assistance, and more. Office space will be provided at the LSE International Inequalities Institute where the teams will work alongside other Atlantic Fellows from around the world and Research Fellows embedded within the Institute.

Visiting Fellows will also become a part of the community of Fellows – including those from sister programmes in South Africa, USA, Asia and Australia – helping to build an informed and motivated network dedicated to reducing inequalities around the world.

You can apply online or you can contact the programme’s Co-Directors, Prof John Hills or Prof Mike Savage, via afp@lse.ac.uk.’

What is special about this?

It gives you a chance to assemble a dream team to do a particular piece of work on inequality, tapping into LSE’s research and brainpower. It’s like an inequalities boot camp.

With a 20 year lifetime, it can build up an international alumni network of scholars and activists who can start to really make a difference. That’s the sort of timescale and ambition the Chicago University economics department had when it helped convert Chile into a monetarist lab rat, so great to see it being harnessed for more progressive ends!

One condition – you will need to have an academic from the LSE as part of your team, preferably as an active member, or if not, as a sponsor. And I’m not offering, even though I teach there (I’m also on the advisory panel for the project, hence this plug).

This is a conversational blog written and maintained by Duncan Green, strategic adviser for Oxfam GB and author of ‘From Poverty to Power’. This personal reflection is not intended as a comprehensive statement of Oxfam's agreed policies.